ITV

Tag: Madhu Mantena

  • Sajid Nadiadwala re-elected as IFTPC president

    Sajid Nadiadwala re-elected as IFTPC president

    Mumbai: The Indian Film & TV Producers Council (IFTPC), the leading organisation representing producers in the Indian film, television, and digital media sectors, held its 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 10 September 2024 at the IFTPC Studio under the leadership of Sajid Nadiadwala, who was re-elected as president. In his address, Nadiadwala detailed the Council’s achievements and progress over the past year. He observed that “the central government as well as the State CM are receptive to the Film Industry,” and expressed hope that the recent box-office successes of certain films will help reinvigorate the industry, highlighting his satisfaction with the success of content-driven films that do not rely on star power.

    JD Majethia, re-elected as TV and Web Wing chairman, recalled the recent farewell event for Sony Network CEO and MD N.P. Singh noted that Singh was “surprised at the pleasant and warm farewell given to him.” Majethia assured that the IFTPC will continue to honour many more distinguished figures from the industry in the future and expressed his optimism that “within 2-3 years, the Indian TV and Web will definitely reach the pinnacle of glory.”

    The reconstituted board of directors for 2023-24 includes Sajid Nadiadwala as president, JD Majethia as chairman of the TV/Web Wing, along with Ratan Jain, NR Pachisia, Madhu Mantena, Shyamashish Bhattacharya, Kumar Mangat, Rajat Rawail, Nitin Vaidya, and Abhimanyu Singh. Ramesh Taurani has once again been requested to continue serving as an honorary advisor.

  • Netflix in partnership with Phantom Films announces original Indian series

    Netflix in partnership with Phantom Films announces original Indian series

    MUMBAI: Netflix in partnership with Phantom Films has announced the launch of a new original series based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel Sacred Games by Indian author Vikram Chandra.

    The series will be available to Netflix members globally upon completion.

    Set in Mumbai, the film delves into the city’s intricate web of organized crime, corruption, politics and espionage that lie beneath India’s economic renaissance. It is an epic masterwork of exceptional richness and power that interweaves the lives of the privileged, the famous, the wretched and the blood thirsty. .

    “Over the last few years, I’ve watched with great excitement and pleasure as Netflix has transformed narrative television with its ground-breaking, genre-bending shows,” comments Chandra. “I’m confident that all the colour and vitality and music of the fictional world I’ve lived with for so long will come fully alive on the large-scale canvas provided by Netflix. I’m thrilled to be working with Netflix and Phantom Films.”

    “We are very happy to start this journey with Netflix by producing Vikram’s outstanding story, set in Mumbai ” says Phantom Films Madhu Mantena. “And we are extremely confident that, together we will create some exciting and groundbreaking Television content from hereon.”

    “We are delighted to partner with creative powerhouse, Phantom Films, to bring Vikram Chandra’s epic novel to life with the best Indian and global film talent available today,” adds Netflix VP of international original series Erik Barmack. “Sacred Games reinforces our commitment to bring the authenticity of local stories to Netflix members across 190 countries worldwide.”

  • Netflix in partnership with Phantom Films announces original Indian series

    Netflix in partnership with Phantom Films announces original Indian series

    MUMBAI: Netflix in partnership with Phantom Films has announced the launch of a new original series based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel Sacred Games by Indian author Vikram Chandra.

    The series will be available to Netflix members globally upon completion.

    Set in Mumbai, the film delves into the city’s intricate web of organized crime, corruption, politics and espionage that lie beneath India’s economic renaissance. It is an epic masterwork of exceptional richness and power that interweaves the lives of the privileged, the famous, the wretched and the blood thirsty. .

    “Over the last few years, I’ve watched with great excitement and pleasure as Netflix has transformed narrative television with its ground-breaking, genre-bending shows,” comments Chandra. “I’m confident that all the colour and vitality and music of the fictional world I’ve lived with for so long will come fully alive on the large-scale canvas provided by Netflix. I’m thrilled to be working with Netflix and Phantom Films.”

    “We are very happy to start this journey with Netflix by producing Vikram’s outstanding story, set in Mumbai ” says Phantom Films Madhu Mantena. “And we are extremely confident that, together we will create some exciting and groundbreaking Television content from hereon.”

    “We are delighted to partner with creative powerhouse, Phantom Films, to bring Vikram Chandra’s epic novel to life with the best Indian and global film talent available today,” adds Netflix VP of international original series Erik Barmack. “Sacred Games reinforces our commitment to bring the authenticity of local stories to Netflix members across 190 countries worldwide.”

  • Reliance Entertainment inks 50:50 JV with Phantom Films

    Reliance Entertainment inks 50:50 JV with Phantom Films

    MUMBAI: Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Entertainment has inked a 50:50 joint venture with Phantom Films, a company which is formed by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena.

     

    The JV company will leverage the proven creative and production capabilities of the Phantom team, while enjoying access to the established domestic and international sales and distribution infrastructure of Reliance Entertainment. 

           

    The Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Films joint venture plans to develop and produce at least five – six films every year, apart from distribution of films in India and overseas, and syndication of rights from the over 175 films strong library. 

     

    Reliance will own 50 per cent shareholding of the combined business, while the balance 50 per cent will be equally held among the four promoters of Phantom Films. The day-to-day operations of the JV will be managed by Phantom Films.       

     

    Reliance group managing director Amitabh Jhunjhunwala said, ““We are delighted to partner with such creative and talented individuals as Anurag, Madhu, Vikas and Vikramaditya, who have an enviable track record of creating great cinema. This partnership is in line with our evolving strategy in the media and entertainment business, of aligning with like-minded people who are trailblazers in their own field, and playing the role of supportive investors on our part.”

     

    Kashyap added, “This deal opens our windows to international opportunities and talent. We hope to optimise on this opportunity, take Indian cinema international and also attract excellent talent into the country.”

     

    Phantom Films will also be in a position to leverage the world-class capabilities of the recently announced Reliance MediaWorks–Prime Focus combination in digital, visual and special effects, pre and post-production, physical studio, etc., with facilities in Mumbai, London, Los Angeles, Vancouver, etc., and including Double Negative, the UK-based digital and visual effects company.

     

    Reliance’s network includes the wide reach of IM Global, a Reliance Entertainment company based in Los Angeles, with operations in North America, UK and Europe, Asia Pacific, China and Latin America. 

     

    Reliance Entertainment has produced, distributed and released films in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali.

  • ‘Katiyabaaz’ to release in 15 Indian cities on 22 August

    ‘Katiyabaaz’ to release in 15 Indian cities on 22 August

    NEW DELHI: ‘Katiyabaaz’, a documentary by Fahad Mustafa and Deepti Kakkar which has already won several awards in India and overseas, is being released in around 45 screens on 22 August.

     

    The film is being presented by Phantom Films owned by Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag Kashyap, Madhu Mantena and Vikas Bahl.

     

    It will initially be released in 15 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Indore, Kanpur, Chandigarh and Jaipur.

     

    The film revolves around Loha Singh, a nimble young electrician who provides Robin Hood style services to the poor in a city with 15-hour power cuts. But he has to face the first female chief of the electricity supply company who is on a mission to dismantle the illegal connections for good.

     

    ‘Katiyabaaz’ won the 61st National Award for Best Investigative Film. It has been shown at several international film festivals including Berlinale, Tribeca and CPH:DOX.

     

    It won the Jury award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles early this year and the Best Film (Golden Gateway award) in the India Gold Category at the Mumbai Film Festival last year.

  • Mumbai Film Festival to feature workshops by cinematic legends

    Mumbai Film Festival to feature workshops by cinematic legends

    MUMBAI: In addition to the stellar lineup of over 200 movies set to be screened at this year‘s most eagerly awaited 14th Mumbai Film Festival, it promises to offer attendees with an opportunity to be audience to panel discussions and participate in workshops conducted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) by cinematic luminaries from around the globe.

    The most enthusiastically anticipated workshop at the festival is the two-day Pitching Screenwriting and Script Development Masterclass that will commence on 17 October with a panel discussion on pitching.

    Participants will benefit from invaluable inputs on the subject provided by Claire Dobbin, script consultant and chair of the Melbourne International Film Festival, renowned scriptwriter David Maggee and special guests such as successful Indian film producers Madhu Mantena (Ghajini) and Guneet Monga (Gangs of Wasseypur) as well as illustrious Indian film director Dev Benegal. The session will be followed by a seminar on How to Approach the Rewrite by Claire Dobbin.

    The subsequent session on 18 October will begin with a presentation by David Maggee, scriptwriter of films such as Life of Pi and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day about his masterpiece Finding Neverland. This will be followed by a dissection of the developmental process of the film.

    The workshop will conclude with a seminar with Claire Dobbin and celebrated Australian film producer Robyn Kershaw on how to pitch in a way that turns a no to yes, an integral part of filmmaking and knowledge that is imperative for aspiring filmmakers in Final Pitches.

    The sessions on both the days are scheduled at the K. R. Cama Institute, Opp. Lions Gate, Fort, between 10 am and 5 pm.

    Science fiction movie buffs attending the festival on Saturday, 20th October, 2012 will be ecstatic about the 2 – 3 pm segment featuring an open forum discussion between Gary Kurtz, legendary producer of epic Hollywood films such as Star Wars and The Steal and Anubhav Sinha, acclaimed Indian director of 2011 science fiction superhero blockbuster Ra.One, about the similarities and differences in execution from Eastern and Western points of view in the making of science fiction films.

    This edition of the Mumbai Film Festival will also witness the country‘s first open forum Panel Discussion on the current state of film preservation and the challenges facing archives in future world of diminishing financial resources and rapidly evolving technologies between 1 & 2.30 pm on Sunday, 21st October, 2012. The session will involve eminent guests representing World Cinema Foundation, Film Foundation, Twentieth Century Fox Archives and Academy Film Archive of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as other highly distinguished members of the international cinematic fraternity. The session will be moderated by Ian Birnie, US Representative at the Mumbai Film Festival and Director of the Film Department at the Los Angeles County Museum.

    Other workshops at the festival include the Masterclass in "Concept to Script to Film Production" conducted on Sunday, 21st October, 2012 between 3 & 5 pm by ace Filipino film director Brillante Mendoza and moderated by respected German film critic Daniel Kothenschulte, who will also groom the collegians selected for ‘Mumbai Young Critics‘ in another segment.

    A special segment organised by WIFT (Women in Film & Television) will see veteran actor Jaya Bachchan conduct a Masterclass in Acting on Monday, 22nd October between 3 & 5 pm.

    The Masterclass in Creative Production will be conducted by Gary Kurtz between 3 & 5 pm on Wednesday, 24th October, 2012 and moderated by seasoned film producer Julian Alcantara who will also moderate the Masterclass in Direction conducted by noted director Andy Tennant of ‘Fool‘s Gold‘, ‘Hitch‘ and ‘Anna and the King‘ fame on Thursday, 25th October, 2012 between 2 & 4 pm.

  • Madhu Mantena mulls animation film on Shammi Kapoor

    Madhu Mantena mulls animation film on Shammi Kapoor

    MUMBAI: In his intention to pay a tribute to the late Shammi Kapoor, producer Madhu Mantena wants to carry forward the actor’s legacy in an animation film.

    Mantena wants to shoot Kapoor’s musical heritage in the animation format. He plans to get the finest graphic designers to work on the special effects. Technicians from Los Angeles are being roped in to make this the "most comprehensive" tribute ever.

    Reportedly, Mantena wants to incorporate 26 of the actor’s most popular numbers into the film. It is said that Mantena doesn’t want remixed versions of Kapoor’s tunes and insists on the original Mohammed Rafi numbers.

    The producer is in talks with Saregama to negotiate an agreement for the rights of Kapoor’s evergreen classics. Acquiring rights of the actor’s songs would not be difficult since Mantena was closely associated with Saregama for many years.